Game with score recording mechanism



Dec. 1968 v. c. ENGSTROM 3,

GAME WITH SCORE RECORDING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 17, 1966 2 Sheets-SheetFl I Array/v5) Dec. 10, 1968 v. c. ENGSTROM 3,415,521

GAME WITH SCQRE RECORDING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 17, 1966 2 Sheets-SheetCowl/TE)? m5 m9 25 /0/ Hag ai 54-1 3/ law W57 FIG. 7 Q0; 2% 2/; I0 2524b //0/ 246 1 /07 nnnnnnnnnnnnn INVENTOR. VINCE/V7 6'. EvqsreozwArrow/5y United States Patent 3,415,521 GAME WITH SCORE RECORDINGMECHANISM Vincent C. Engstrom, South Gate, Calif., assignor to ArthurLootf and Etta M. Looif, jointly, both of Long Beach, Calif.

Filed Oct. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 587,175 8 Claims. (Cl. 273-424) Thepresent invention relates generally to the field of commercial amusementdevices, and more particularly to an improvement in the score recordingmechanism utilized in a ball-actuated game. The game is of the type inwhich a plurality thereof are arranged in a bank, with each playerendeavoring to secure a winnning score.

Games of the type described are normally operated by paid employees, whoin most instances collect the charge for each game from the player priorto the start of play. In the event an employee does not account to anowner for all monies collected from the participants of the games, therevenue lost to the owner thereof can be substantial over a period oftime. i

- Heretofore no accurate and automatic means have been devised by whichthe owner of such games may determine the number of games that have beenplayed, andthe amount of money his employees should have collected overa particular period of time therefor. Also, prior to the presentinvention the previously available games were not provided with meansfor signalling to a player that his particular game apparatus wasoperative, rather than inoperative due to mechanical or electricalmalfunctioning thereof.

One of the operational disadvantages of the previously availableball-actuated games of the type described has been that the contactpoints in switches used in the electrical circuits thereof oxidize andcorrode when exposed to damp air and moisture, whereby one or more gamesin a bank thereof may become inoperative. Normally, such inoperativegames cannot be repaired when the balance of the games in a bank are inuse, and as a result, the owner thereof suffers a substantial loss inrevenue.

A major object of the present invention is to provide an improvement incommercially operated, ball-actuated amusement devices, which minimizesthe period the games are inoperative, with the improvement being adaptedto be incorporated in either new or old game devices.

Another object of the invention is to supply an improvement for use inball-actuated games by means of which the number of times each game in abank is automatically and accurately recorded.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved gameapparatus which is adapted to be used in a bank of ball-actuated games,that will visually signal to each player whether his particular game isoperative the first time the ball associated therewith passes through anopening in the playing surface of the game apparatus.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide improvements inball-actuated games which not only accrue to the benefit of the owner,but the players thereof as well.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description thereof, and from theaccompanying drawings illustrating the same, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a game board or playing field, a portion ofwhich is broken away to show a part of the pivotally supported leversthereunder, that are adapted to be actuated when a ball passes throughopenings in the game board;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the recording mechanism,taken on the line 55 of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the recording mechanism after a winning scorehas been secured;

FIGURE 7 is an end elevational view of a portion of the game,illustrating the condition thereof prior to play;

FIGURE 8 is the same end elevational view of the game apparatus shown inFIGURE 7, after operation thereof;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the game apparatus, takenon the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the apparatusindicated by the numeral 10 in FIG- URE 8; and

FIGURE 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of one of the electricswitches used with the score recording mechanisms.

With continued reference to the drawings for the general arrangement ofthe improvement in the score recording mechanisms for a game apparatus,it will be seen that each such mechanism is operatively associated witha game board, frequently referred to as a pin ball type.

The game apparatus includes a playing field 10, as best seen in FIGURE1, in which a number of holes are formed through which a ball or marblemay drop, and this playing field is customarily covered by a sheet ofglass or other transparent material. The object of the game is to obtainscores by causing the ball to drop in one or more holes or certaincombinations of holes. Two or more players on separate game boards canplay competitively, with the winner being the first to complete certainplays or make certain scores. In the form illustrated herein, theSCOring holes are arranged in two rows, 11 and 12 extending from rightto left across the playing field 10.

In order to play one of the games, a player retracts plunger .13, andthen allows the plunger to suddenly move forward under the influence ofa spring (not shown). The plunger drives ball 14 forwardly and upwardlyalong inclined ramp 15 and against a curved guide 16 which directs theball onto the rear upper end of the playing field 10. Field 10 isslightly inclined downwardly and forwardly toward the player wherebyball 14 rolls down it toward the scoring hold due to the force ofgravity.

A number of bumpers or posts 17 are provided in order to make it moredifiicult to drop ball 14 through any particular scoring hole in therows 11 and 12. If ball 14 does not drop through any of the holes inrows 11 and 12, it will strike against a guide 18 which directs the ballinto the non-scoring hole 19.

After ball 14 drops through any of the holes in playing field 10 iteventually drops onto the inclined surface 20, which is located beneaththe playing field 10. The halls roll downwardly on surface 20 onto atrack 21. A curb 22 is parallel to track 21 at its lower edge, and thetrack and curb dire-ct the ball downwardly and to the right to return itto the position shown immediately in front of plunger 13, from which itmay be again played by the operator.

The recording mechanism comprises an open, rectangular frame 2.4 onwhich is mounted a plurality of parallel levers, indicated collectivelyby the numeral 25. These levers 25 are further individuallydistinguished by the numerals 26-50 inclusive, except that there is nolever 38 for reasons which will be explained hereinafter. All levers 25are pivotally mounted in a row on a horizontally extending rod 52secured to the side wall 24a, as can best be seen in FIGURE 2, bytransversely apertured screws 52a. Levers 25 pivot in a vertical plane,and are guided by slots 24e provided in the rear side wall 2412, asshown in FIGURE 9. There is one lever 25 for each scoring hole in rows11 and 12 on the playing field The even numbered levers are shorter inlength than the odd numbered levers to permit positioning of the ends ofthe even numbered levers under the scoring holes in rows 11 asillustrated in FIGURE 1. The forward end portions of the odd numberedlevers are positioned beneath the scoring holes in row 12.

Frame 24 is supported on a pair of elongate longitudinally extendingmembers 53 which project rearwardly beyond frame 24. Members 52 supporta cross bar 54 of L-shaped transverse cross section, as may best be seenin FIGURES 2 and 8. Anumber of electrical switches 55 are supported oncross bar 50, which extend forwardly therefrom. The switches 55 aredisposed in side-by-side rela tionship, as shown in FIGURE 2. The samenumber of switches 55 are provided as levers 25, and the switches are solocated that one switch is associated with, and operated by a lever.

Levers 25 are individually biased towards a horizontal position, or onethat is nearly so, as may be seen in FIG- URES 7 and 10, by a number ofsprings 25!; secured to a transverse member 25c afiixed to side wall 24aby conventional means. An inverted U-shaped hook 25d is formed on thefree end of each spring 25b, and this hook engages the forward portionof one of the levers 25.

The construction of one of the switches 55 is shown in FIGURE 11, eachof which includes a rectangular base 55a formed of an electricalinsulating material such as plastic or the like, which is impervious tomoisture, and is provided with a first contact 55b mounted on the uppersurface thereof. Contact 5511 is connected to a first terminal 550 thatextends downwardly thrOugh base 55a. A second terminal 55d extendsthrough base 55a, and holds an elongate electrical conducting toggleassembly 55a in longitudinally spaced position on the upper surfacethereof. Toggle assembly 55e includes a second contact 55f that is inengagement with contact 55b when a force is not exerted on theright-hand portion of the assembly, as illustrated in FIGURE 11.

An inverted elongate cap 55g formed of a moisture impervious, electricalinsulating material is mounted on the upper portion of base 55a, whichcap slidably supports a vertically movable pin 55h. Pin 55h rests on theupper left-hand portion of assembly 55e. An elongate rigid actuatingmember 55h is pivotally supported by a transverse pin 55k above cap 55g.The ends of pin 55k are supported by two transversely spaced, upwardlyextending lugs 55e that are integral parts of cap 55g.

Terminals 55c and 55d are electrically connected when actuating member55 is in the upwardly extending second position shown in FIGURE 11. Whenmember 55 is pivoted in a counter clockwise direction (FIGURE 11) to afirst position substantially parallel to the upper surface of cap 55g,the contacts 55:: and 55d are separated by pin 55h as it is moveddownwardly to exert a force on the upper portion of assembly 55e.

As indicated in FIGURES 6-8 inclusive, the terminals 55d are connectedto a common wire 56 that extends to a suitable source of power. Theother terminals 55c are connected to a common wire 56a extending to saidsource, as well as to a number of signal lights 57.

It will thus be seen that the number of signal lights 57 is equal to thenumber of scoring holes on playing field 10, with there being one lightrepresenting each hole whereby when a score is made by dropping a ballthrough that hole, the corresponding light may be lit to visuallyindicate that a score had been made. A light 57, but without a switch inits circuit, is ordinarily provided to represent hold 38. All signallights 57 are normally located on a scoreboard or annunciator, which maybe located at the back end of playing field 10, or is frequently locateda short distance away from the game board.

A plurality of transversely extending bars 60 are slidably mounted inend members 24c and 24d of frame 24. These bars are identifiedcollectively by the numeral 60, but are given individual numerals 62-72inclusive, as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 6. These bars are spring-biasedtoward the right as illustrated in FIGURE 1 by springs (FIGURE 9) whichare under tension, and attached one to each of the bars 62-72 inclusive,as well as to transverse rigid rods 76a that extend between side walls24a and 24b.

The transverse bars 60 are held against horizontal sliding movementtoward the right, as shown in FIGURE 1, by engagement with one or moreof the levers 25. As will be more fully explained hereinafter, eachtransverse bar 60 initially engages each lever of a group of levers 25,and when play has proceeded in such a way that all levers of that groupare tilted to indicate scores, that bar is then disengaged by the leversand is free to move as a result of a force applied to the bar by thespring 75 attached thereto.

To engage levers 25, each of the bars 60 is provided at appropriatelocations with a plurality of stops 76, which project above the topsurfaces of the bars a short distance in order to engage the side faceof levers 25 when the levers are in the horizontal or normal positionshown in FIGURE 7. Any other suitable means of engaging the transversebars 60 and levers 25 may be used; for example, it is possible to formthe bars with notches or irregularities in the upper edges thereof whichwill engage the levers 25.

After a lever 25 has been struck by a ball as it drops through a scoringhole, it is tilted to the position shown in FIGURE 8 wherein it closes aswitch 55 associated therewith. It is then desirable to maintain thelever 25 in this position in order to keep switch 55 closed and signallight 57 illuminated. For this purpose means is provided which isadapted to hold each individual lever 25 in the tilted position.

Such means is shown best in FIGURES 3 and 5, and comprises a pluralityof holding member 78 pivotally mounted on a fixed bar 79 that extendsbetween end walls 24c and 24d. There is one such member 78 for eachlever 25 (FIGURE 3). Normally, holding members 78 are substantiallyvertical, and press against the side of the associated lever 25 in themanner shown by the two right-hand members 78 illustrated in FIGURE 3.Spring wires 80 attached to the lower end of holding members 78 and tothe rear side wall 24b, urge the holding members to pivot in a counterclockwise direction as shown. Consequently, as soon as the rear end ofany lever 25 is raised, the associated holdnig member 78 swings into thepath of that lever and prevents the lever from dropping back into theposition it normally occupies, which is shown in FIGURE 7. In FIGURE 3levers 26, 27 and 28 are shown held in the tilted position by holdingmembers 78. Pivotal movement of members 78 is limited by stops 82 whichextend horizontally from a transverse bar 83 that is slidably mounted inthe end members 24c and 24d of frame 24.

At the right-hand end of frame 24 a U-shaped bracket is mounted, andbetween the outstanding arms of this bracket, a plate 87 is pivotallymounted on a shaft 86 in a position opposite to the right-hand ends ofall transverse bars 60, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. A projecting portion88 of plate 87 is in a position to engage the free ends of an actuatingmember '89 of a normally open electrical switch 90. When the plate 87 isdisposed as shown in FIGURE 2 it holds a switch 90 in an open position.Also, when any one of the bars 60 moves to the right, as illustrated bybar 62 in FIGURE 6, the right-hand end of the bar engages the pivotalplate 87 to swing the upper end thereof outwardly.

This movement of plate 87 causes projection 88 into pressure contactwith the actuating member 89 to close switch 90 (FIGURE 6). One contactof switch 90' is connected to wire 56, which is a common source ofelectrical current. When switch 90 is closed, it also closes a circuitto a signal light 91, shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, which light is normallyin a position adjacent to signal lights 57. Usually light 91 is of adifferent character than lights '57, and is used to indicate that awinning play has been made. In addition to a visual light signal, anaudible signal may be utilized by incorporating suitable equipment inthe electrical circuit.

Plate 87 is also used as a re-set mechanism to return any of the bars 60which have moved to the right to their normal positions, and movement ofbar 83 serves the same purpose relative to the holding members 78. Forthis purpose a bell crank 93 is pivotally mounted on shaft 86 thatextends from a bracket 85, as seen in FIG- URE 8. The upwardly extendingarm of crank 93 is provided with a projection that is engageable withplate 87 (FIGURE 9). The horizontal arm of bell crank 93 is providedwith a pull cord 95, or other suitable means, whereby the crank may beturned about on its pivotal mounting.

A generally U-shaped bail 100 is provided, as shown in FIGURE 2, thatincludes two parallel arms 101, connected by a web 102. The free ends ofarms 101 are bent to define two prongs 103 that extend towards oneanother, and are pivotally supported in two longitudinally alignedopenings formed in end pieces 24c and 24d as also shown in FIGURE 2.Bail 100 is preferably formed from a stiff wire. The web 102 rests onthe upper edges of the rear portions of levers 25, and these leverportions project beyond the side wall 24b, as may best be seen inFIGURES 2 and 6-9 inclusive.

An electric switch 105 is mounted on the rear portion of one of framesupport members 53 as shown in FIGURES 2, 7 and 8. Switch 105 includes apivotally movable, forwardly extending spring-loaded actuating member106, and it is in the open position when the actuating member issubstantially horizontal as shown in FIG- URE 7. Due to thespring-loading thereof member 106 tends to pivot upwardly, but isrestrained from so doing by bail 100 with which it comes into contact.However, when bail 100 is pivoted upwardly to the position shown inFIGURE 8, member 106 pivots upwardly and places switch 105 in a closedposition.

One terminal of switch 105 is connected by a conductor 107 to a sourceof power. Two other terminals of switch 105 are connected to a signallight 108 and an electrically actuated counter 109 by conductors 110 and111 respectively, which are also connected to the source of electricpower (not shown).

The operation of the game apparatus of the present invention is asfollows. The player causes ball 14 to drop through one of the scoringholes in rows 11 and I2, and strikes the forward end of a lever 25located directly beneath said hole to tilt the lever. Thus the impact ofthe falling ball causes a lever 25 to move from its normal positionshown in FIGURE 7 to the tilted position illustrated in FIGURE 8,whereby the raised rear end of the lever allows the actuating member 55of the associated switch 55 to pivot upwardly into the closed position.Closing of this particular switch 55 results in illumination of thespecific signal light 57 associated with that opening in rows 11 or 12through which the ball has passed.

The first lever 25 to pivot from the position shown in FIGURE 7 to thatillustrated in FIGURE 8 results in movement of bail to the tiltedposition shown. Pivoting of bail 100 to this position allows anactuating member 106 to pivot upwardly and close switch 105. When switchis closed, a circuit is completed to signal light 108 to indicate to theplayer that the game is in an operative condition, but also energizescounter 109. Each time the counter 109 is energized, the cumulativevisual total thereon (not shown) is increased by another unit. Counter109 is of conventional design.

In the normal or initial position of each lever 25, a pivoted holdingmember 78 bears lightly against one side of the lever in the mannershown by the two right-hand members 78 in FIGURE 6. When lever 25 istilted to raise its rear end, the holding member 78 associated therewithswings about its pivot on bar 79 to move underneath lever 25, as shownby the two right-hand members 78 in FIGURE 3. Each member 78 holds eachlever 25 in its tilted position, and each switch 55 associated with eachlever is held closed so that a signal light 57 remains illuminated.

It will be understood that the purpose of the game apparatus of thepresent invention, as is ordinarily the case with games of this type, isto attain scores by causing a ball or marble used therewith to dropthrough certain selected holes. In this particular instance, the objectis to obtain scores by causing the ball to drop through all the scoringholes of a particular group. Characteristic of the manner in whichgroups of holes may be established or predetermined without thenecessity of limitation thereof, twenty-four levers 26 to 50 inclusiveare arranged one beneath each one of an equal number of scoring holes,'with the holes and levers being arranged in a predetermined number ofgroups of five each.

The first five groups of levers 25 are determined by designating eachsuccessive five levers, starting from either end of the row as seen inFIGURE 2, as a group, except that the center group includes only fourlevers, although there are five scoring holes in this group. Thissituation is due to the fact that there is no lever beneath scoring hole38. This construction illustrates the so-called free play in which theplayer is automatically credited with a score equivalent to thatrepresented by hole 38, without actually having to drop a ball 14therethrough. Since in this particular game, it is not possible toobtain another score by causing a ball to drop through a specific hole asecond time, the lever beneath the free-play hole 38 has been omitted.

It will be understood that in the event a game is played in which arepeat score can be obtained, then a lever underneath hole 38 may beadded, just as are the other levers. Because of the presence of hole 38on playing field 10, levers 25 are grouped by fives as if there were alever beneath hole 38, making a total of twenty-five, but for otherpurposes, hole 38 may be considered as a non-scoring hole.

According to this grouping of levers 25, it will be appreciated that thefirst group consists of levers 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. The second groupconsists of levers 31-35, the third group of levers 3640, the fourthgroup, levers 41-45, and the fifth group, levers 46 50.

As 'a consequence of this grouping of levers, bar 62 is provided withfive stops 76. Stops 76 are spaced along the transverse bar 62 in thesame intervals as successive levers 25, and are so located that one stopengages each lever 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, as shown particularly inFIGURE 2. It will be understood that as long as levers '25 are in theirnormal positions, each stop 76 on bar 61 engages a lever of the firstgroup of five levers.

Assuming play has progressed to the point where only levers 26, 27 and28 have been moved to the tilted position, the component parts thereofoccupy the positions illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. Holding members 78will have moved to retain levers 26, 27 and 28 in the tilted positionwhereby these three levers maintain their associated switches 55 in aclosed position. Also, these three levers will have disengaged stops 76on bar 61, but the bar is still prevented from transverse movement tothe right due to engagement of two stops 76 with levers 29 and 30. Whenplay has progressed further and levers 29 and 30 have been moved intothe tilted position, bar 62 is then disengaged from each lever of thefirst group and thereafter moved to the right by the attached spring 75.

When bar 62 slides to the right, the end thereof engages plate 87 andcauses the plate to swing about the shaft 86, thus bringing projection88 into pressure contact with actuating member 89 of switch 90 andclosing the switch (FIGURE 6). This action closes the electric circuitto signal light 91, which signals that a winning play has been made as aresult of the player having completed the necessary scores.

From the above description and an inspection of FIG- URE 2 it will beseen that any one of the bars 62-72 may move to the right after the ball14 has passed through a particular group of openings in rows 11 or 12.Movement of any one of the bars 62-72 to the right is sufficient toclose switch 90 to signal that a winning score has been secured.

After a winning play has been completed, it is then necessary to restorethe parts of the mechanism to their original positions in order that anew game may be conmenced. This restoration of the various parts of thegame apparatus is accomplished primarily by actuation of bell crank 93.At the end of play, the component parts may be in the positions shown inFIGURE 6 in which bar 62 is bearing against plate 87.

Upward motion of the bell crank is limited by a stationary pin 97. Inorder to reset the mechanism, cord 95 is drawn downwardly, causing thebell crank to rotate in a clockwise direction to the position shown inFIGURE 9. This motion brings a projection 94 provided on bell crank 94into engagement with plate '87, and also causes the latter to rotate ina clockwise direction about shaft 86. Plate 87 engages the ends of anyand all transverse bars 60 which may have moved from their initialpositions shown in FIGURE 2. Continued movement of plate 87 moves thetransverse bars to the left (FIGURE 2) until the ends are nearly flushwith frame 24. At this point the bars 60 will have been movedsufficiently to the left that the stops 76 have been moved to clearlevers 25, and accordingly are in a position to re-engage levers 25 whenthese levers are dropped back into their normal positions.

As bars 60 move, bar 83 is engaged by plate 87 and moved to the left.Each of the spaced stops 82 carried on bar 83 engages a pivotal member78 and rotates these members in a counter clockwise direction, asillustrated in FIGURE 3, about its pivotal mounting on bar 79. Thismovement is in direct opposition to that caused by springs 80. As seenin FIGURE 3, the top ends of all holding members 78 are moved to theleft, out of the path of levers 25, whereby these levers are thus freeto drop back into the horizontal position shown in FIGURE 7 under theinfluence of springs 25b. This action permits the switches 55 to returnto their open position and break all the electrical circuits to thesignal lights 57.

When the levers 25 are moved from the position shown in FIGURE 8 to thatillustrated in FIGURE 7, the bail 100 pivots downwardly by force ofgravity and the switch 105 is placed in the open position. Theelectrical circuit to the signal light 108 and electrically operatedcounter 109 is then broken.

After the bell crank 93 has been moved downwardly to. the fullest extentand all of the transverse bars 60 and 83 are moved to the left, travelof these bars preferably carries them somewhat beyond their position ofrest which they occupy at the commencement of play. This is done inorder that stops 76 and holding members 78 may be moved entirely clearof levers 25. When levers 25 have been returned to their normal positionby springs 25b they are then in place for engagement by stops 76 andholding members 78, for the transverse bars 60 and 83 are moved slightlytowards the right by springs and the bell crank 93 released to bereturned by a spring 98 to engage the stationary pin '97.

Plate 87 is preferably biased either by force of gravity or a springtowards the ends of the transverse bars in order that it does notprematurely engage the electric switch 90. It will thus be seen that thebars 60 and 83 and levers 25 as well as bail 100 are all simultaneouslyreturned to their original positions as a result of the movements whichoccur upon actuation of the bell crank 93 and plate 87.

Although the present invention is fully capable of achieving the objectsand providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to beunderstood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferredembodiment thereof, and I do not mean to be limited to the details ofconstruction herein shown and described, other than as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a score recording mechanism for use with a game apparatus having aplurality of parallel, laterally spaced levers pivotally supported froma rectangular open frame and projecting forwardly therefrom, whichlevers are located below a playing surface and have spaced openingsformed therein through which a ball drops to sequentially tilt saidlevers, a plurality of bars slidably supported on said frame with eachbar being en-gageable by a predetermined group of levers, first meansfor moving each of said bars when said group of levers associatedtherewith are tilted to be disengaged therefrom, a normally openelectrical circuit, a plurality of signal lights and an electricallyoperable game win-indicating device connected to said circuit, a firstnormally open switch forming a part of said circuit that is closed bythe movement of one of said bars to complete said circuit to said gamewin-indicating device, the improvement for operation of said gameapparatus, comprising:

(a) a plurality of normally open second electric switches associatedwith said levers and connected to said circuit and signal lights, eachof which second switches include means to protect the contact pointsthereof from corrosion, with each of said second switches when closed bythe tilting of said associated lever completing said circuit to one ofsaid signal lights to indicate the progress being made in securing awinning score;

(b) second electrically operable means, which when energized, indicatesaid game is in an operative condition;

(c) third electrically operable counter means for maintaining a recordof the number of times said game is played;

(d) a third normally open electrical switch, which when closed,completes said circuit to said second and third means, and

(e) fourth means for closing said third switch when said fourth meansmoves from a first to a second position, with said fourth means beingmoved to said second position by any one of said levers as tilted.

2. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to protectsaid contact points comprises a hollow body impervious to moisture inwhich they are contained.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said second means is anincandescent bulb.

4. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said counter maintainsa visual total of the number of times said game is played, which totalis increased by one unit each time said counter is electricallyenergized.

5. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said third switchincludes a spring-loaded actuating arm that at all times tends to movefrom an open to a closed position, and said fourth means comprises amember 9 movably supported from said frame and rests on all of saidlevers.

6. The improvement as defined in claim 5 wherein said fourth meanscomprise a bail pivotally supported from said frame, which bail is inpressure contact with said actuating member when any one of said leversfirst moves to a tilted position.

7. The improvement as defined in claim 6 wherein said bail is at alltimes resting on at least one of said levers.

8. The improvement as defined in claim 1 which further includes:

(1) spring means that all times tend to maintain said levers in anon-tilted position.

10 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,211,617 8/1940 Faber 273-1232,485,721 10/ 1949 Engstrom. 2,646,987 7/1953 Hatherell 273121 RICHARDC. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. T. ZACK, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. C1. X.R.

1. IN A SCORE RECORDING MECHANISM FOR USE WITH A GAME APPARATUS HAVING APLURALITY OF PARALLEL, LATERALLY SPACED LEVERS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED FROMA RECTANGULAR OPEN FRAME AND PROJECTING FORWARDLY THEREFROM, WHICHLEVERS ARE LOCATED BELOW A PLAYING SURFACE AND HAVE SPACED OPENINGSFORMED THEREIN THROUGH WHICH A BALL DROPS TO SEQUENTIALLY SAID LEVERS, APLURALITY OF BARS SLIDABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID FRAME WITH EACH BAR BEINGENGAGEABLE BY A PREDETERMINED GROUP OF LEVERS, FIRST MEANS FOR MOVINGEACH OF SAID BARS WHEN SAID GROUP OF LEVERS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH ARETILTED TO BE DESENGAGED THEREFROM, A NORMALLY OPEN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT,APLURALITY OF SIGNAL LIGHTS AND AN ELECTRICALLY OPERABLE GAMEWIN-INDICATING DEVICE CONNECTED TO SAID CIRCUIT, A FIRST NORMALLY OPENSWITCH FORMING A PART OF SAID CIRCUIT THAT IS CLOSED BY THE MOVEMENT OFONE OF SAID BARS TO COMPLETE SAID CIRCUIT TO SAID GAME WIN-INDICATINGDEVICE, THE IMPROVEMENT FOR OPERATION OF SAID GAME APPARATUS,COMPRISING; (A) A PLURALITY OF NORMALLY OPEN SECOND ELECTRIC SWITCHESASSOCIATED WITH SAID LEVERS AND CONNECTED TO SAID CIRCUIT AND SIGNALLIGHTS, EACH OF WHICH SECOND SWITCHES INCLUDE MEANS TO PROTECT THECONTACT POINTS THEREOF FROM CORROSION, WITH EACH OF SAID SECOND SWITCHESWHEN CLOSED BY THE TILTING OF SAID ASSOCIATED LEVER COMPLETING SAIDCIRCUIT TO ONE OF SAID SIGNAL LIGHTS TO INDICATE THE PROGRESS BEING MADEIN SECURING A WINNING SCORE; (B) SECOND ELECTRICALLY OPERABLE MEANS,WHICH WHEN ENERGIZED, INDICATE SAID GAME IS IN AN OPERATIVE CONDITION;(C) THIRD ELECTRICALLY OPERABLE COUNTER MEANS FOR MAINTAINING A RECORDOF THE NUMBER OF TIMES SAID GAME IS PLAYED; (D) A THIRD NORMALLY OPENELECTRICAL SWITCH, WHICH WHEN CLOSED, COMPLETES SAID CIRCUIT TO SAIDSECOND AND THIRD MEANS, AND (E) FOURTH MEANS FOR CLOSING SAID THIRDSWITCH WHEN SAID FOURTH MEANS MOVES FROM A FIRST TO A SECOND POSITION,WITH SAID FOURTH MEANS BEING MOVED TO SAID SECOND POSITION BY ANY ONE OFSAID LEVERS AS TILTED.